What Makes for a Great Bowhuntng state for mature bucks
07-02-2008, 07:53 PM
#12
Boone & Crockett
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Michigan/Ohio
Posts: 11,682
RE: What Makes for a Great Bowhuntng state for mature bucks
ORIGINAL: DropTine249
Are you kidding me ?
And I think New Jersey..that is what makes a great hunting State.
Are you kidding me ?
And I think New Jersey..that is what makes a great hunting State.
In 1935, the U.P. had 35,000 hunters. Those hunters killed over 14,000 bucks (42% hunter success rate), 55% of those bucks were 3.5 years and older, 16% were 5.5 years and older.
I truly believe N. Michigan and UP could be 1# in deer hunting again
07-02-2008, 08:19 PM
#13
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: St. Louis, MO
Posts: 4,487
RE: What Makes for a Great Bowhuntng state for mature bucks
Illinois is 3 0f 4-sort of
1. Gun season out of the Rut and less than 10 days Usually starts late in the rut for 3 days, then another 4 days 2 weeks later.
2. OBR or AR for two NO
3. Low Hunter Numbers Not too bad.
4. Food source OOOHHHH YYEEAAHHH BAAABBYYY !!!!!
1. Gun season out of the Rut and less than 10 days Usually starts late in the rut for 3 days, then another 4 days 2 weeks later.
2. OBR or AR for two NO
3. Low Hunter Numbers Not too bad.
4. Food source OOOHHHH YYEEAAHHH BAAABBYYY !!!!!
07-03-2008, 11:02 AM
#15
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Southwest PA
Posts: 1,244
RE: What Makes for a Great Bowhuntng state for mature bucks
1. Gun season out of the Rut and less than 10 days
2. OBR or AR for two
3. Low Hunter Numbers
4. Food source
2. OBR or AR for two
3. Low Hunter Numbers
4. Food source
#3 is definitely OUT and #1 is way too long with 2 weeks of both Buck and Doe.
I think another aspect to put in there is culture.
But not everyone views a trophy in the same way. Let's say you get a 300 acre farm and that you plant food plots and try to strickly manage for 'mature' whitetails. What if the surrounding neighbors don't care and shoot the first legal buck. It really gets you nowhere.
07-03-2008, 01:24 PM
#16
Site Bouncer
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Illinois
Posts: 4,099
RE: What Makes for a Great Bowhuntng state for mature bucks
ORIGINAL: Germ
BigJohn ask this in a post. Here is what I think.
1. Gun season out of the Rut and less than 10 days
2. OBR or AR for two
3. Low Hunter Numbers
4. Food source
I rate food source last because if a deer does not age, it does not matter[8D]
BigJohn ask this in a post. Here is what I think.
1. Gun season out of the Rut and less than 10 days
2. OBR or AR for two
3. Low Hunter Numbers
4. Food source
I rate food source last because if a deer does not age, it does not matter[8D]
Anyway....I'm not sure if your list is entirely correct but I think it's close. Here in Illinois we have our gun season in the middle of the rut but it's only 3 days in November and 4 days in December so I think that helps a lot to keep the number of big bucks up and strong. We also have a two buck limit no matter what weapon you choose. We also (for the most part) have good food sources although in Hardin County there is more timber than anything yet it still produces great bucks. As far as hunter numbers go, while I don't know the exact amount, Illinois has it's share of hunters, I would not consider it to be low.
So what's the secret?? I can only guess it's mostly the limits enforced by the IDNR along with the excellent food sources (for the most part) and the fact that the November Illinois gun season is really the only time thedeer get killed in great numbers and it only lasts 3 days.
Those three combined is a pretty good receipt forbig deer.
07-03-2008, 01:30 PM
#17
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location:
Posts: 21,043
RE: What Makes for a Great Bowhuntng state for mature bucks
Do all of that other stuff in FL......and then tell me the soil nutrient content isn't number 1 (for growing BIG mature bucks)
Honestly, though...."Mature" bucks ARE everywhere. Given. SOme states are doing it right....and they shine.
Honestly, though...."Mature" bucks ARE everywhere. Given. SOme states are doing it right....and they shine.
07-03-2008, 01:35 PM
#19
Typical Buck
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: East Central Illinois
Posts: 660
RE: What Makes for a Great Bowhuntng state for mature bucks
ORIGINAL: jmbuckhunter
Illinois is 3 0f 4-sort of
1. Gun season out of the Rut and less than 10 days Usually starts late in the rut for 3 days, then another 4 days 2 weeks later.
2. OBR or AR for two NO
3. Low Hunter Numbers Not too bad.
4. Food source OOOHHHH YYEEAAHHH BAAABBYYY !!!!!
Illinois is 3 0f 4-sort of
1. Gun season out of the Rut and less than 10 days Usually starts late in the rut for 3 days, then another 4 days 2 weeks later.
2. OBR or AR for two NO
3. Low Hunter Numbers Not too bad.
4. Food source OOOHHHH YYEEAAHHH BAAABBYYY !!!!!
Couldn't have said it any better!
07-03-2008, 01:42 PM
#20
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: East Central, Ohio
Posts: 1,226
RE: What Makes for a Great Bowhuntng state for mature bucks
ORIGINAL: huntingson
1 and 4 we have covered. Honestly, I think Ohio does a pretty good job managing the deer. I wish our non-resident tags were super expensive though
1 and 4 we have covered. Honestly, I think Ohio does a pretty good job managing the deer. I wish our non-resident tags were super expensive though